Post navigation

We’ve been putting together an entry for the Dentistry Awards 2010. The entries close in mid-September and we’ve been collating material for the submission that sees me pitching to win Best Young Dentist of the Year. It’s always an interesting exercise when it comes to taking stock of what’s been achieved in one’s career and what the aims are going forward. We’ve had some great brainstorming sessions and our creativity levels have been high. So fingers crossed! But as I always say, it’s not always about winning, it’s the taking part that counts.

OK – so no-one said it was going to be simple.But project management of the new clinic is a mega-headache at times! Aiming to get final dates pinned down for everything is one of the toughest jobs I’ve faced in years. It seems everyone involved is reliant on everyone else to make things happen. Progress is being made and I’ve now set in my own mind a date that I want to earmark for the official move. I’m keeping it a secret just now…not wanting to tempt fate. But let’s just say…it’s getting closer. And of course we’ll keep you posted here on the website blog.

We’ve just run a competition to promote the benefits of oral hygiene. The preferred two minute long slots twice daily for brushing your teeth are a vital part of any dental care plan. We offered the new Philips Sonicare electric toothbrush as a prize. It’s a very smart piece of equipment and comes with its own sterilisation unit which ensures your brushes are kept ultra-clean at all times. I always recommend to patients old and new to maintain a high level of dental hygiene and it’s especially important for those who may have had implant, bridge or crown work done.

A career in the world of dentistry is clearly much sought after – I’ve got mountains of mail to back up that statement! I’ve been inundated with replies to a series of job ads we placed recently in preparation for the move to the new clinic.With the state of the art equipment and fantastically designed environment, our new workplace will be perfect for our new team which will be increased significantly as we transfer our operations. Our existing team will assist in the selection process for our new colleagues. It’s all very exciting and challenging. I’m looking forward to expanding our team of colleagues – both new graduates and experienced specialists/clinicians who together will work with a team approach to patient treatment that will allow the delivery of consistently high results.

It’s not just brides-to-be and their intended grooms who will decide to have a smile makeover or boost session as their wedding day approaches.

We were visited by the proud father of a groom who decided he also needed a helping hand in ensuring his big day smile was spot on.

He’s just written to me to express his thanks and I thought I’d share this with you.

He’d come to me on the recommendation of his own dentist who’d suggested implants might be an option to help improve his dental appearance.

The man wrote: “With my son’s wedding coming up, I wanted to look good in the wedding photos. Philip was very professional in every aspect of my treatment and he guided me towards the best treatment for what I wanted. The outcome couldn’t have been better. I can smile for the first time in years without feeling embarassed.

“The wedding photos were terrific and I can show them to my friends without hesitation. I would recomend Philip to anyone who feels that dental treatment is required.”

I was delighted to hear from him – and his letter gave me a big smile too.

When the new clinic opens I plan to organise lectures and seminars for other dentists to share in the knowledge about implant work.

I’ll invite some of the leading UK and international implant experts to participate in the presentations.

I currently look after a lot of patients who are referred by their dentists to me for implant work. Their aftercare is hugely important and part of the learning process we’ll organise is helping these dentists to understand exactly what the patient needs going forward after the implant procedure has been completed.

Earlier this year I was on the lecture circuit in Glasgow lecturing to dentists who are training in implant dentistry. This was organised by Stephen Jacobs, implantologist and President of the Association of Dental Implantology.

My topic was computer guided surgery. I was very honoured to be invited to conduct the lecture. Back in 2004 I was one of the first surgeons in the UK to be trained in the Nobel Biocare guided surgery concept. I underwent this training in Philadelphia at the renowned Balshi/Wolfinger Prosthodontics Intermedica Clinic. Computer guided surgery can offer a quick and accurate method for the predictable and atraumatic placement of dental implant fixtures.

One of my favourite TV shows is The Apprentice with Lord Sugar and so when the topic of apprentices came up in discussions with the local council my ears perked up.
I believe the role of a dental nurse in any clinic is of paramount importance and it gives a school leaver a brilliant opportunity to pursue a good, solid career with excellent training opportunities.
Glasgow City Council is working with a number of business partners to help deliver the social benefit that the Commonwealth Apprenticeship Initiative will bring for the city. The Council believes that apprenticeships play a central role in growing skills in Glasgow. The council is committed to increasing the range of apprenticeships it offers for 2010 and is working with a number of businesses across the city to do this. A number of school leavers who applied to the CAI expressed an interest in dental nursing and my practice has pledged to support the initiative by interviewing some of the Council’s potential apprentices for a post in the new clinic. Interviews will take place soon…..

More information on the commonwealth apprenticeship initiative can be found at:

I read this very interesting article on the BBC News website and it’s on topic that has concerned me for some time. My advice is on a par with the British Dental Health Foundation’s – keep away from the temptation to have a tongue piercing. There’s an inevitability that at some point a piercing on the tongue will cause some of damage to your teeth.

The article reads…
People with tongue piercings risk developing gaps between their front teeth as a result of playing with the stud, US researchers have found.

The University of Buffalo team says that, as well as potentially requiring cosmetic work, people can develop infections and chipped teeth.

It discusses a patient in the Journal of Clinical Orthodontics who needed braces to correct the gap in her teeth.

UK experts advised people to “steer clear” of the adornment.

The researchers said that people with tongue piercings were likely to push the metal stud up against their teeth and consequently cause gaps and other problems to arise.
Sawsan Tabbaa, professor of orthodontics at the University of Buffalo, detailed the 26-year-old’s case.She had had no space between her teeth before wearing a barbell-shaped tongue stud.

However, a space had appeared between her upper front teeth over the course of the seven years she had worn it for, because the metal bar was pushed against and between the teeth.

Professor Tabbaa said: “The barbell is never removed because the tongue is so vascular that leaving the stud out can result in healing of the opening in the tongue, so it makes perfect sense that constant pushing of the stud against the teeth – every day with no break – will move them or drive them apart.

The author concluded that tongue piercings could result in serious injuries, not just to teeth. Piercings have also been associated with haemorrhages, infections, trauma to the gums and, in the worst cases, brain abscesses.

Nigel Carter, chief executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, said: “The temptation of playing with the stud in the mouth would be very high and in time this could lead to hundreds of pounds worth of corrective treatment.

“The results of this study stress the risks.

“In order to avoid such health problems in the future, along with the spiralling costs of any related treatment, I would advise people to stay clear of tongue piercings.”

One of the 21st century’s biggest advances in dental enhancement is teeth whitening.

At Philip Friel Advanced Dentistry we recommend two options – tray whitening or the Zoom advanced power whitening.

With tray whitening, the patient wears a specially produced close fitting tray into which gentle whitening solution is applied and worn – at night or for four hours during daytime.

With the Zoom advanced power whitening a 90 minute process is carried out in the surgery using a lamp to activate whitening gel which is applied to your teeth.

The two options can be used separately or as a combination to achieve the best results.

Our hygienist Jen can advise on whitening during a routine hygienist appointment or ask for more information during a consultation. Please contact us by phone or email too if you would like more information about our whitening services.